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Don Godbold January 17, 1948 - April 16, 2026 78 Years of age A celebration of life will be held for Don Godbold at 1 p.m., Monday, April 20, 2026, at Friendship Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will start at 10 a.m. until time of service at the church. Don Godbold, 78, of Brookhaven, MS, passed away on April 16, 2026, at his residence. He was born on January 17, 1948, at Kings Daughters Medical Center in Brookhaven to the late S. M. Godbold, Sr. and Francis Kyzar Godbold. He was a member for over 40 years at Brookhaven Church of the Nazarene. He served on the church board for many years and as Sunday School Superintendent. After the church closure he became a member of Friendship Baptist Church. He was a 1966 graduate of McComb High School and graduated in March 1968 from Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science. After graduation, Don wed Sue Allred and they had a long loving relationship. In 1978, after working eight years at Catchings Funeral Home, the family moved to Brookhaven. There he started work at Southern Wholesale Company while still working part time for several area funeral homes. In 1987, he began working for the next 16 years full time in funeral service at Brookhaven Funeral Home and he also served several terms as District Governor for Mississippi Funeral Directors Association. In 2003 his lifelong dream of becoming a funeral home owner came true when he became part-owner of Riverwood Family Funeral Service. He retired in 2014 but was still very active in serving families until his health issues started that prevented him from doing so. On December 20, 2025, he celebrated 60 years in the funeral service profession. He is preceded in death by his parents; his loving in laws, Alton and Edith Allred; brothers, Bob Godbold and Marvin Godbold; brothers in law, Steve Allred, Keith Allred, Bill Coggins, and K.C. Avery; and dearest friend of 50 plus years, Steve Rousseau. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Sue Allred Godbold; son and loving daughter in law, Bradley and Jennifer Godbold; precious grandchildren, Molly Godbold and Luke Godbold; sister, Carol Avery; sisters in law, Jan Godbold, Dot Godbold, Clara Ann Coggins, Becky McDavid and husband, Mike, and Dale Allred; and a special cousin, Terry Lane Nations. He also leaves behind a number of nieces and nephews whom he dearly loved.

Special to Wesson News   Wesson Public Library (WPL) will lead the local celebration of National Library Week April 19-25.   The American Library Association (ALA) sponsors the annual week-long event to celebrate the essential role of libraries and library staff in transforming lives and strengthening communities.  Daily celebrations during the week include Right to Read Day, National Library Workers Day, and National Library Outreach Day.    The three-fold purpose of the nationwide celebrations thematically framed as “Find Your Joy” is to:   Promote library use. Highlight the diverse services libraries offer – technology, meeting spaces, programs. Encourage support for libraries, especially against censorship.   “In Wesson, over the years, we found events for kids to be an effective way to do all three,” says WPL Librarian Marilyn Britt.  “The events message community service, reach parents and others who care about children and engender support for our library.”   So in line with its tradition, Wesson Public Library will celebrate National Library Week by hosting 28 kids from the Wesson Baptist Church pre-school program on Monday, April 20, and 54 students from the Wesson Attendance Center first grade on Tuesday, April 21.  Retired veterinarian Bob Watson will speak both days, assisted by his golden retriever.  On Wednesday, April 22, which is Earth Day, WPL will host the third and fourth graders in Wesson Garden Club’s (WGC) Butterbeans program for kids with a focus on trees in connection with Arbor Day on Friday, April 24, and “Neighborhood Forest” and “Get Free Trees” activities.   On Thursday, April 23, the library will fete its librarians and the members of Wesson Friends of the Library to a private luncheon that honors their work in making WPL an important community service which brings people together, sparks imagination and supports lifelong learning..   ALA invites the wider community to participate in National Library Week by:   Visiting local libraries in person or virturally to take out books, use media resources, or attend programs. Thanking library staff  for their contributions as library professionals. Supporting libraries by   engaging them on social media. Advocating for local, state and federal funding for libraries.

By: Jessica Breazeale When you think of art, what comes to mind? Painting, Sculpture, Literature, Architecture, Music….   When thinking of the best art, I think of the Mona Lisa or anything by Leonardo Da Vinci. I am not credentialed to teach art by any means. I just really appreciate it.   What comes to mind when God thinks of his best  art?   Aristotle’s quote in his work called Poetics in 4th century BC (the earliest surviving work of Greek dramatic theory and the first to focus on the poetic art). He said, “The aims of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.”     Aristotle was born way before Jesus (like 335 years before). He saw art this way…as something to marvel at, not by how beautiful or interesting it was on the outside, but by the significance inside. This is important because he came from a Greek background where they believed in many gods – and remember, before Jesus, people had a hard time connecting with God, understanding God, assigning meaning to their lives. So even before Jesus came to show us the way, Aristotle glimpsed what God feels… that art is not a pretty thing to look at, but the true masterpiece is what’s significant on the inside.   What is the point? Well, let’s look at some art, shall we I bet we learn something incredible! Alexamenos graffito This graffiti was discovered in Rome, Italy in 1857. It was scratched into the plaster on a wall (now removed), but dated between 50-250 AD. Take a look…   This may be the earliest surviving image of the crucifixion. It’s said to be a mocking depiction of the Christian act of worship. The inscription says “Alexamenos Grafitto”, which means “Alexamenos is worshipping his God.”   Notice the crucifixion - but the head is a donkey . This sarcastic graffiti shows Romans mocking Jesus. A common phrase among pagans was that Christians “worshipped a donkey”.  This graffiti, to many, is considered a work of art…certainly not because of it’s beautiful on the outside but rather because it holds a heavy, weighty inward significance of how people felt about the messiah - and the crucifixion. To me, it’s not pretty…not even close. But it’s a story that will be told throughout the ages…a true work of art. It tells a story that must continue to be shared.   Let’s look at one more work of art, the famous work on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, painted between 1508 and 1512. “The Creation of Adam” illustrates creation from the Book of Genesis. Michelangelo’s work was influenced by his time period and trends, but he chose to depict this moment in such a unique  way.   Despite the scriptures' account of the creation of Adam, Michelangelo chose to tell the story of the beginning of life with a single touch by his creator. Let’s look closely…   When you study this image, what do you see?   a.       Do you notice how God is reaching with every effort, with all the angels of heaven, reaching hard to touch Adam? b.       Do you notice how comfortable Adam is, barely moves, looks possibly uninterested, indifferent, not making much of an effort back. c.       Do you see this  as a moment of free will? d.       Do you see this  as a moment of human consciousness?   While it’s a beautiful scene to look at because it’s painted by a legend, it’s way less about the outward beauty for me. It provokes thought, and I get lost in it…   Do I put forth effort back to God who reaches for me? Do I have a passive faith that is comfortable? Do I recognize free will and choose correctly? If I’m formed in His likeness, do I resemble Him? If He’s a perfect father, do I act indifferent that he formed me because he wanted me?   For me, this is a masterpiece because of its inward significance .   We could look at different pieces of art all day every day and never have enough time. There are so many wonderful pieces of art.   It’s never been about how you look on the outside; your value is your internal significance. Some of you DON’T feel like a work of art, a masterpiece. Maybe you had someone who made you feel small, unimportant, worthless, dumb, or not talented enough. I hear you. Same.   Go find out what Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 4:3-5. You’ll thank me!   How can you feel like a masterpiece?   Realize your worth. You are timeless. You’re priceless – there was a price tag on you, but it’s been paid in full. You’re exquisite, marked by flawless craftsmanship by God, your Father who designed you just how he wanted you. You weren’t mass-produced. You are not an assembly line product. You were handcrafted…one of a kind…deliberately planned, specifically gifted and lovingly positioned on this earth by the master craftsman. Eph 2:10 AMP: We are his workmanship (his own master work), a work of art, created in Jesus to do good works. Of all his creations, he calls US his workmanship or best work of art.   I’ll pose the original question again. Q: What comes to mind when God thinks of his best art? A: YOU! Downloadable version

By Bob Garver Poster credit IMDB Good news, grown-ups, even though most of the screens at your local theater are probably still devoted to “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” there’s a decent option for adults in one of the other houses. I’m convinced that “The Drama” has stayed in the top three at the domestic box office for the past two weekends by reeling in parents who don’t want to watch Mario with their kids, but don’t want to leave the theater. Or it could be good advertising, good word-of-mouth, good reviews, or other non-cynical reasons. The film follows Charlie (Robert Pattinson) and Emma (Zendaya), a nauseatingly-cute Boston-area couple a week away from their wedding. He’s a bit of a creep and she doesn’t talk much about her military-family upbringing, but they’re sure they can learn to live with each other’s foibles, after all, they’re in love. Hopefully it’s not much of a spoiler to say that their love will be tested over the course of the film as they deal with, well, drama. That drama first rears its head at a couples’ dinner with friends Mike (Mamoudou Athie) and Rachel (Alana Haim). Rachel has the bright idea to have everyone at the table reveal the worst thing they’ve ever done. I’m not sure what the “best” case scenario is for a game like this, but it certainly ends in one of the worst. Emma makes the grave miscalculation of thinking that she has the forum to be honest, and reveals a secret that ruins everybody’s night. I joked about spoilers earlier, but when it comes to Emma’s secret, things are more difficult. Unlike traditional spoilers, this one comes early in the movie, when she and Charlie are still in their “honeymoon phase,” so to speak. Not revealing the secret makes it hard to look at the rest of the movie, but it’s in the movie’s best interest that the audience is taken off-guard so they don’t have time to form opinions about the controversial subject matter in advance. What I can say is that once Emma’s secret is revealed, Charlie can’t look at her the same way again. He tries to put it out of his mind, but… if you’re told not to think of a red umbrella, you think of a red umbrella, and Emma’s secret might have involved some red umbrellas if people were carrying umbrellas. It is worth noting that Emma’s secret does not involve tangible victims or require tangible consequences. All it can do is affect how people think of her, which is invariably some form of “worse.” Emma’s secret drives Charlie to madness in his relationship with his friends, his assistant (Hailey Gates), and especially Emma. Eventually his insecurities drive her crazy, and by the time of the wedding, they’re quite the dysfunctional couple. They’re talking about spending the rest of their lives together, but can the relationship even survive the reception? Let’s just say that there will probably be a lot fewer fantasies about getting married to Robert Pattinson after this movie. “The Drama” really clicked with me, even though its appeal lies in a dark, awkward, cringey comedy that I don’t normally like. Probably the highlight of the film for me was a scene from the trailers, where Charlie and Emma try to pose for wedding photos like everything is okay when it definitely isn’t. It’s not hard to tell from the trailers that “something” is off, but the added context made it funnier than it ever was when being cryptic (though being cryptic was the right tone for the trailers). I recommend this film, but try to wear a beat-up shirt that you won’t mind stretching out from tugging at your collar. Grade: B “The Drama” is rated R for sexual content, some violent/bloody images, language throughout, and brief drug use. Its running time is 105 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu .

Copiah-Lincoln Community College students in Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) earned top honors across multiple categories at the FBLA Collegiate State Leadership Conference, recently held at the University of Southern Mississippi. Winners included: Olivia Vaughn of Union Church- First place, Project Management; First place, Business Presentation Team Gracie Smith of Bogue Chitto- First place, Business Ethics; Second Place, Accounting Conner Cunningham of Brookhaven- First place, Supply Chain Management; Second place, Project Management Anna McKenzie of Smithdale, First place, Hospitality Management; Second place, Hospitality Management Team Case Competition Anna Raye Brister of Ruth- First place, Impromptu Speaking; Fourth place, Job Interview Thomas Baker of Brookhaven – First place, Economics; First place, Business Presentation Team Will Harris of Brookhaven- First place, Sports Management & Marketing; Third place, Management Keynon Barnes of Silver Creek- Second place, Entrepreneurship; Second place, Marketing Benson Schexnaydre of McCall Creek- Second place, Economics; Second place, Public Speaking Brianna Brown of Hazlehurst- Second place, Customer Service Jarvis Walker of Crystal Springs- Second place, Management; Second place, Hospitality Management Team Case Competition Ethan Coleman of Meadville- Second place, Impromptu Speaking; Sixth place, Job Interview Lonnie Boyd of Bogue Chitto– Third place, Hospitality Management; Second place, Hospitality Management Team Case Competition Hayden Gunnell of Bogue Chitto- Fourth place, Business Law Qualifying students will now compete at the FBLA National Leadership Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Send responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com You want your way. And that is normal. But getting others to want to do what you are asking? Sometimes that’s just not very easy. Forcing them usually doesn’t make you a winner. In their eyes or in your own. A normal person will usually admit they don’t enjoy having to use bad tactics to win. They just can’t figure out another technique. And they are right; there are other means to get your way. For example, you may be bigger and stronger than a child in your care and can physically force them to comply, but that is just old-fashioned bullying to get your way. You are the adult, and you need to find a smarter method to be teaching and disciplining them. How? Just keep in mind, those little guys have their own personalities and their individual point of view, which means that invariably there will be a wrong way to handle them. (Think hook and GONGGG!!) A little fellow with a belligerent streak won't take kindly to bullying from you. But at the same time, that Aggressive Alan can sense a coward a quarter mile away. So hold your ground, but at the same time don't destroy his independent spirit while you do. Give him a choice from several choices that are all acceptable to you. Rather than just telling him what he has to do, which can set off a stubborn set to his little chin and a “you can’t make me” glint in his eye. Cooperation goes a long way with this kind of kid. Or, how about being the boss of your own company, and using that lofty position to demand your employees do things your way... and only your way? Usually, those tactics gain you the disdainful title of micromanager. Invariably resulting in very little creativity and energy from your employees. And those results end up in a gradually building burning resentment of you - if not outright rebellion. And possible sabotage of your position. Be smart. Learn how to command respect by respecting them. Take the easier way to getting what you are wanting. When an employee makes it clear they are disagreeing with you - and they will - do yourself a favor. Take the time to learn the "why" they are resisting you. Then work from that. Either realize they do have a good point and learn from it, or clearly and kindly communicate why you will not agree and won’t allow their idea to be utilized. But either way, thank them for their creativity and that your door is always open to them. Either way you go, accepting their point, or explaining to them why you won't...it's called good communication. I had a teacher in my past whose favorite saying was this; “We can do this the hard way or the easy way, but either way, it’s gonna be my way.”  Effective? I won’t try to interpret it for you, but I certainly remember that woman all these years later.

A small business is bringing energy, economic impact, and community connection to the Pearl community. Vintage Market Days® of Mississippi , owned and operated by past Rankin County residents Chris and Jana Fuss , returns to Pearl April 17 - 19, 2026, at the Clyde Muse Center with a three-day, vintage-inspired community market that supports small businesses and tourism. While Vintage Market Days® is nationally recognized, this event is independently owned.  “This event goes beyond shopping and has a real impact on the local community” said Jana. “As my husband and I lived in Rankin County nearly 30 years, it’s incredibly important to us that this event supports other small businesses and brings visitors into the area. The April event will feature small business vendor s , many of them local to Central Mississippi, alongside select artisans traveling from across the country.  Beyond vendors, the event supports event staff, security, musicians, venue workers, and service providers, while also boosts nearby restaurants, hotels, and small businesses. “Every ticket purchased and every booth filled helps support families, creatives, and workers right here in this community,” Jana added.  The Spring 2026 event features a fun, family-friendly ” Oh Honey ” theme while maintaining Vintage Market Days® signature upscale, curated feel. Vintage Market Days® events have been nationally recognized as one of Country Living’s “7 Flea Markets and Barn Sales Not To Miss,” but Jana says the heart of the show is local. “This event is about celebrating creativity, entrepreneurship, and the power of shopping small, while shining a spotlight on Pearl and Rankin County.” The event runs: Friday, April 17, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM  Saturday, April 18, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Sunday, April 19, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Tickets are available online and at the door, with free re-entry all weekend. Children under 12 attend free with a ticketed adult. Media outlets are invited to attend, film, and interview Jana, vendors, and attendees onsite. Visual elements include colorful themed displays, vendor booths, live shopping moments, and behind-the-scenes looks at a locally produced large-scale event.

By Misty Strieff Prine                 “Some people are going to reject you because you shine too bright for them. That’s okay. They don’t pay your light bill. Keep shining!” – Unknown.                 I have learned this in such a BIG way in my life, even as of late. There’s always going to be someone within your inner circle that just simply doesn’t like your…” brightness”. They don’t like the attention your kindness attracts, the happiness that it ignites like a spark around the room, because after all, smiling and happiness is contagious. There will always be someone in your circle that never claps for you when you succeed, never fully appreciates you when you go above and beyond to help them at the drop of a hat and yet puts that temporary smile on just until you walk away. At the end of the day, you just can’t, nor will you ever be able to please everyone. No matter how hard you try. Simple as that.   But, after experiencing SO many of these types of people in my life, you learn to spot them immediately, so you’re careful. It’s sad that you become THAT good at reading people. You can’t help but wonder why someone can dislike you so much, for no reason at all, that they keep themselves that miserable all of the time. It must be exhausting. I try to remember to apply my own lesson I taught my kids as they were growing up thinking, “you just don’t know what they may be going through, or have been through” but then… I guess I’m just different. I could never just dislike anyone for no reason, be spiteful or spread false truths. So it’s hard to understand. But then I’m reminded it’s not my place to understand. I just have to turn it over.   Like it says above, we need to remember who God has called us to be and not let those people dull our shine for Him though MANY may have tried and CONTINUE to try. At the end of the day “THEY” don’t pay our light bill, God does. Only His opinion should matter to us. We need to pray each day that His will be done and lean on our faith that He’ll take care of the rest and, remember what His word says in Isaiah 54:17, that “No weapon formed against me shall prosper.” Friends, He has MORE THAN proved that every single day. He’s already won the battle. There may be a battle we face each day but He’s preparing us for the next one already.   Remember, the enemy is working overtime…but he doesn’t pay the light bill!

By Bob Garver               2023 brought audiences “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” by far the most successful cinematic adaptation of a video game ever. It was a wonder how appealing the property was with vibrant, colorful animation and respect for both its source material and its audience. I couldn’t bring myself to recommend the film, as the story, action, characters, and humor never really “came together” for me, but it was definitely a step in the right direction.             In that film, plumber brothers Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Cox) stumbled upon the Mushroom Kingdom, led by Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), who they saved from having to marry Bowser (Jack Black), king of the evil Koopas. They also aligned with headstrong ape Donkey Kong, but he’s not in play here. The brothers and Peach were hailed as heroes, while Bowser was ultimately shrunk down and imprisoned in a jar.             This film starts out by introducing some new characters. Princess Rosalina (Brie Larson) rules over a planet of childlike stars in another galaxy. She’s abducted by Bowser Jr. (Benny Safdie), who needs to harness her powers to activate a doomsday weapon. But first, there’s the matter of rescuing his father from Peach’s castle in the Mushroom Kingdom. Meanwhile, a plumbing job leads to Mario and Luigi making the acquaintance of loveable dinosaur Yoshi (Donald Glover, apparently, though he mostly communicates in indiscernible squeaks), who is too marketable to not immediately become a lifelong companion of our heroes.             Peach and loyal mushroom-man assistant Toad (Keegan-Michael Key) go off to rescue Rosalina, leaving Mario and Luigi in charge of the Mushroom Kingdom. They barely manage to keep the place running for a day, and really drop the ball when Bowser Jr. attacks. They leave to join the rescue mission (so much for their responsibilities running the kingdom) with the still-miniature Bowser in tow.             The teams’ adventures take them to a casino galaxy, a honeybee galaxy, a dinosaur galaxy, and a hub that connects all the galaxies, where they enlist the help of stranded pilot Fox McCloud (Glen Powell). The climax takes place on a much-heralded planet that Bowser Jr. has built for his father to rule. Aside from the worlds where the characters actually live, there’s no reason for them to visit other galaxies, but this is a movie that insists on variety for the sake of variety.             And that’s the biggest problem with the film: it’s very cluttered. Fans of the video games might get a kick out of the various settings and brief character appearances and other Easter eggs (appropriate, I suppose, for the recent Easter weekend), but I don’t see a point in including all these goodies if the film can’t do anything interesting with them. It can barely do anything interesting with its main characters, let alone the obscure ones.             Sorry, but the movie is a mess from a storytelling and character development perspective. For example, Bowser laments that he wasn’t always there for Bowser Jr. as a father. But we don’t get a single scene of Bowser Jr. addressing how little his father had been there for him. Nor do we get any scenes where Mario and Luigi talk about missing their home and family in Brooklyn. Peach learns about major aspects of her identity, but I never got the sense that it was really “hitting” her. It all feels sloppy and rushed, as if the writers knew they needed to incorporate various story beats “somehow,” and “somehow” turned out to be the bare minimum.             “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” once again gets the visual aspect right, which admittedly is a big part of this franchise’s success. But the story is nonsensical, the characters are cardboard, and there’s a noticeable lack of chemistry between the voice actors, probably owing to them not recording together. It’s a minor step back for the property after “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” took such a major step forward.   Grade: C “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” is rated PG for action, mild violence, and rude humor. Its running time is 98 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu .

Send responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com Living in a desert in the summertime, a real actual desert, you have to learn to make choices. Choices that can make or break how well you thrive in this rather harsh environment. You can focus your thoughts and attention on the unrelenting ‘cook your soul’ heat in the summer, or you can anticipate the six months of near perfect temperatures in winter time. You can easily resent the burning hot sand and jagged rocks, or instead, you can choose to raise your eyes to those beautiful, hazy, purple-shaded mountains in the distance that surround your city. Driving down the highways, I can watch the native scrub brush and cactus passing by that admittedly are not my favorites, or I can deliberately focus my attention on the colorful native flowers and lacy-leaved trees and bushes that are everywhere in my neighborhood. Concentrating on the oppressive heat that builds as the day progresses is easy to do. And definitely a mood destroyer. Much better to bounce yourself out of bed early in the morning and get outside while there is still a trace of desert-cool in the air. And then spend your busy day anticipating watching the lazy movement of huge gas-powered balloons floating in the beautiful evening sky while you sip on an icy drink. I can mourn the thousands of miles that now separate me from my siblings back home, or I can look forward to being a free-of-charge destination spot for vacationing relatives. My point? Deliberately make choices. Choices that are good and healthy for your mental and physical well-being. Anyone with half a functioning brain can choose to concentrate on the unfortunate and hurtful things in their life. Everyone alive has pain or worry that they can choose to be the focal point of their life. But it’s a much smarter decision to deliberately set out each day to find the positives. Too often people make the choice to view their days thru gloomy glasses, concentrating on the distressing thoughts in their life.  And then wonder why they live year after year in depression and bitterness. Decide to backburner the ugly and sad, and concentrate on choosing to look for the good stuff. Sure, I know that we can’t just ignore the bad part of our lives and make it all go away. But we can choose what we make first and foremost. And making the sad part of your life first and foremost just isn’t smart. Your deliberate choices do matter. You actually can find beauty and contentment in the middle of ugliness and difficulty. But only if you begin each day determined that you will  find some tiny bit of good in your circumstances. Then focus on that. Choices have the ability to make or break you. They can haze over the ugly, or make you blind to everything except what you resent or hate about your life. Your choice. Your days. Your life.

Copiah-Lincoln Community College is proud to announce that two members of its Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) program were recognized with top honors at the annual American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science–Mississippi (ASCLS-MS) and Louisiana Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (LSCLS) Bi-State Meeting held recently in Biloxi. Co-Lin MLT student Whitney Bishop of Florence was named Student of the Year, a statewide honor that highlights her strong academic performance, leadership, and commitment to the laboratory science profession. In addition, Paula Yarborough of Bogue Chitto, Co-Lin's MLT Program Director, was selected as Member of the Year. Yarborough also received the Omicron Sigma Award for Service, a recognition presented to members who demonstrate exceptional dedication to advancing clinical laboratory science through volunteer service, professional involvement, and contributions to the field. The American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science–Mississippi and Louisiana Society for Clinical Laboratory Science Bi-State Meeting brings together laboratory professionals, educators, and students for professional development, continuing education, and statewide recognition of outstanding achievements in the field. For more information about Co-Lin's Medical Laboratory Technology program or to schedule a tour, visit www.colin.edu/mlt .

By Jessica Breazeale Have you ever walked into a room and felt like you didn’t fit in—maybe at work, a social event, or even at church? As we get older, we care less about “fitting in”, but it still matters – somewhat. It matters because that sense of belonging shapes how we feel. I like to reframe “fitting in” by redefining it. Fitting in, to me, means being a missing puzzle piece, but sometimes I ask myself: Am I really the puzzle piece needed here to complete the puzzle? Fitting in, to me, means being an added paint color, but sometimes I ask myself: am I really the Pantone that’s needed to make this picture pop, or is my color even necessary here…is it already beautiful as is? Sometimes, the answer is yes, and sometimes it’s no. And that’s okay. Average to Gen Z is, like, totally mid—it’s the basic, typical vibe that isn't standing out or bussin' but it's also not a total fail. It’s the vibe check on the normal, the middle-of-the-road content that’s just, well, average.  • "Mid": Abbreviation for mediocre; used to describe something average or unimpressive. • "Basic": Lacking originality; the standard, expected average. • "Valid, but mid": Something okay, but not exceptional.  While I’m not Gen Z or speak their language very well, I can say I don’t let average (or “mid”) define me—I believe my superpowers do. So, what are your superpowers? You might think you don’t have any, but you do! What makes you stand out? What makes you come alive? What do others come to you for? Your superpowers give you the strength to never worry about being “mid”. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, ‘No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.’ We hear you, Eleanor. Loud and clear! Have you ever had someone make you feel inferior? I know I have…and I do not consent. Do you? As a public relations professional, I worked at jobs where I was expected to do the work of many people – an entire team. Sounds really unrealistic, right? It was emotionally and physically taxing, and it was unfortunately my daily norm. Even though that season was extremely stressful and challenging, I realized later I had developed so many skills that became invaluable! It was hard at the time, but now I realize the real reward was in the hard. I’m better now for those unrealistic expectations that were placed on me, with new superpowers. The experience made me stronger, more flexible, and more resilient. This is why I’m the extreme multitasker I am today. While some might say, “She’s doing too much,” I actually don’t know how to thrive without juggling 700 things at any given moment. According to  The 2023 Girls' Index by ROX , only 55% of 17,500 surveyed U.S. girls in grades 5-12 report feeling confident, a significant drop from 68% in 2017. Confidence plummeted most among younger girls, with 5th-grade confidence dropping from 86% to 68%. Why the decline? Why are these girls feeling less confident?   Could it be the rise in social media usage? 46% of girls now spend 6+ hours daily on these platforms, which correlates with higher rates of stress, sadness, and lower self-image. I’m sure the people who try to make you feel inferior don’t help either, right? Are these girls trying too hard to fit in where they were born to stand out? Are they not aware of their superpowers and just need someone to help them discover those? This is a good place to stop and say this: Why compare yourself to others? You were born for uniqueness. Literally. This realization should take away the desperate quest for approval. Accepting this truth would alleviate the need to compete, be liked, fit in, and feel the longing and ultimate void that will leave you with. Because of the professional tough time I encountered, I gained skills I didn’t have before—like website design, graphic design, and digital marketing. And through all these business challenges, I discovered my greatest superpower: it’s not in the office or any boardroom, but in ministry. The skills I gained—like communication, leadership, and creativity—help me connect with and attempt to make a difference in the lives of others. So, these superpowers don’t just help me succeed, they help me give back and try to make a real impact in people’s lives. Don’t bother yourself with trying to fit in. Wilde obviously understood the superpower of embracing your uniqueness by encouraging authenticity over imitation. There’s power in authenticity, so own your originality…flaws and all. After all, you were designed to be different and called to be set apart. Downloadable Version